Volkswagen New Zealand is beginning its emissions recalls programme with the Amarok light commercial pick-up this week as the brand also sees new dealership premises open or begin development.
A new VW showroom has just recently opened in Hamilton East for Ebbett Group, and another will open this week in Palmerston North.
VW New Zealand Tom Ruddenklau says there are plans for an entirely new dealership in Invercargill, as well as new showroom development for Dunedin, and another showroom development is under way in Tauranga for the Farmer Motor Group.
Volkswagen will be maintaining its presence at this week’s Southern Fieldays at Waimumu, near Gore, in Southland because Ruddenklau says it’s important for the brand to “front up.”
In regards to the emissions issue affecting more than 5000 Volkswagen vehicles in New Zealand, Ruddenklau says he is not 100% sure why the Amarok was the first cab off the rank in the recall programme but says he is happy to see the process underway.
“I’m looking forward to moving to the diesel passenger vehicles and the closure of this issue,” he says.
According to Stuff, he expects the recall project will take the best part of a year to complete as the distributor progressively goes through every affected model asking customers to present them to dealerships for the required fix.
But Ruddenklau says through the emissions problem, the distributor has gained an active and valuable opportunity to connect with customers of vehicles from the 2008 to 2010 period.
The Amarok recall begins this week.
Volkswagen New Zealand is inviting customers to bring their cars into authorised service centres for a software update that will take less than an hour.
According to Stuff, the German Federal Motor Transport Authority has advised Volkswagen New Zealand that independent tests have shown the fix for the Amarok will not affect the pickups performance, economy, or even its acoustic properties.
Loan Amarok vehicles will be available for those people who need one for the hour, or customers can elect to have the update carried out at the next scheduled service.
